2007 BMW E87 130i
Discussion
After owning this for a few months now i thought it was a good point to document the journey.Being a VAG fan and recently selling my 2010 Audi A3 1.6 Tdi i wanted something more "fun".Naturally the first port of call for any VAG fan boy when they think of practical fun is the Mk5 GTI however after reading reviews on these i braved the change.Being the first rear drive car i've driven let alone owned it was only fitting to collect it in the snow and ice of early January.
(Picture from the previous owner)
So far so good.Ive replaced the gearbox mounts for 034 Motorsport items,done the clutch delay valve mod and changed the engine oil out for a slightly thicker 5w40 from Motul.
The induction noise in the higher rev range is incredible!
(Picture from the previous owner)
So far so good.Ive replaced the gearbox mounts for 034 Motorsport items,done the clutch delay valve mod and changed the engine oil out for a slightly thicker 5w40 from Motul.
The induction noise in the higher rev range is incredible!
Welcome on in to the E8X 130i owners club 
Owned my 130i LE since September; project here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's a great car
I'd highly recommend, if anything, get the engine mounts replaced, do the rear subframe bush inserts with the Whiteline jobbies and a full fluids flush / refill for the box and diff
The front 340mm Brembo 4 pot caliper/disc upgrade is worth it too, all plug n play and it makes a superb upgrade over the stock braking
Owned my 130i LE since September; project here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's a great car
I'd highly recommend, if anything, get the engine mounts replaced, do the rear subframe bush inserts with the Whiteline jobbies and a full fluids flush / refill for the box and diff
The front 340mm Brembo 4 pot caliper/disc upgrade is worth it too, all plug n play and it makes a superb upgrade over the stock braking
danb79 said:
Welcome on in to the E8X 130i owners club
Owned my 130i LE since September; project here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's a great car
I'd highly recommend, if anything, get the engine mounts replaced, do the rear subframe bush inserts with the Whiteline jobbies and a full fluids flush / refill for the box and diff
The front 340mm Brembo 4 pot caliper/disc upgrade is worth it too, all plug n play and it makes a superb upgrade over the stock braking
Thanks,you may not remember me,i collected the front disc and pads from you few months back.Still collecting nuts and bolts and finding time to fit them.Owned my 130i LE since September; project here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's a great car
I'd highly recommend, if anything, get the engine mounts replaced, do the rear subframe bush inserts with the Whiteline jobbies and a full fluids flush / refill for the box and diff
The front 340mm Brembo 4 pot caliper/disc upgrade is worth it too, all plug n play and it makes a superb upgrade over the stock braking
Yeh enjoying it so far,is alot different to the anything ive had before!
someguycalledtom said:
danb79 said:
Welcome on in to the E8X 130i owners club
Owned my 130i LE since September; project here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's a great car
I'd highly recommend, if anything, get the engine mounts replaced, do the rear subframe bush inserts with the Whiteline jobbies and a full fluids flush / refill for the box and diff
The front 340mm Brembo 4 pot caliper/disc upgrade is worth it too, all plug n play and it makes a superb upgrade over the stock braking
Thanks,you may not remember me,i collected the front disc and pads from you few months back.Still collecting nuts and bolts and finding time to fit them.Owned my 130i LE since September; project here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's a great car
I'd highly recommend, if anything, get the engine mounts replaced, do the rear subframe bush inserts with the Whiteline jobbies and a full fluids flush / refill for the box and diff
The front 340mm Brembo 4 pot caliper/disc upgrade is worth it too, all plug n play and it makes a superb upgrade over the stock braking
Yeh enjoying it so far,is alot different to the anything ive had before!
That's the most fun of it all; collecting and stockpiling all the parts
I often wish I had spent a bit more and got one back in 2019, but I saved at least a grand and bought an E90 330i instead. 
It'll certainly feel very different to a 1.6d Audi, and you won't need to worry about expensive cam-belt changes like you would with the Golf option.
Hope you keep enjoying your RWD experience.
It'll certainly feel very different to a 1.6d Audi, and you won't need to worry about expensive cam-belt changes like you would with the Golf option.
Hope you keep enjoying your RWD experience.
Mr Tidy said:
I often wish I had spent a bit more and got one back in 2019, but I saved at least a grand and bought an E90 330i instead.
It'll certainly feel very different to a 1.6d Audi, and you won't need to worry about expensive cam-belt changes like you would with the Golf option.
Hope you keep enjoying your RWD experience.
Yeh light years away from the A3 which was 105ps and plagued with EGR issuesIt'll certainly feel very different to a 1.6d Audi, and you won't need to worry about expensive cam-belt changes like you would with the Golf option.
Hope you keep enjoying your RWD experience.
The engine is certainly the centrepiece of a very ordinary looking car.
Sko77y said:
Welcome to the Pistonheads 130i crew! Quite a few popping up now, a lot of car for the money. Maintenance isn't too bad, it's my first BMW - I think water pump and the DISA valves are the main ones - well that and oil leaks.
Thankyou,yeh this is my first BMW also so very much learning about them.One thing i find strange is the lack of water temp gauge - but it has a oil temp gauge??
We had a child free day so we used the BMW rather than the family Seat for an afternoon in around Knutsford.Not great for the mpg but nice to be out in it.This week ive removed the front and rear wiper arms and given them a few coats of satin black to get rid of few rust spots.
Edited by someguycalledtom on Tuesday 27th May 10:46
Boring update alert.I have noticed the battery has beem alittle lazy probably due to short journeys and lack or use so a charge was needed.I havent used it in a couple of weeks so whipped the battery out to charge at work.Was in perfect health just needed a small charge.Also replaced this nasty looking bolt with a new one from BMW.
someguycalledtom said:
Boring update alert.I have noticed the battery has beem alittle lazy probably due to short journeys and lack or use so a charge was needed.I havent used it in a couple of weeks so whipped the battery out to charge at work.Was in perfect health just needed a small charge.Also replaced this nasty looking bolt with a new one from BMW.
Crikey; look at the state of that bolt! Wonder if there's been water ingress somewhere...Re the battery; might be time to invest in a CTEK charger if you're able to leave it connected etc - just connected mine up this morning as my 130i isn't likely to move for a while, so makes sense to keep the battery happy
danb79 said:
Crikey; look at the state of that bolt! Wonder if there's been water ingress somewhere...
Re the battery; might be time to invest in a CTEK charger if you're able to leave it connected etc - just connected mine up this morning as my 130i isn't likely to move for a while, so makes sense to keep the battery happy
I know as soon as saw it i thought the same.The plastic "battery tray" is bone dry.Ive hoovered it out so i can keep an eye on it,it has a hard plastic boot liner in it so ill keep an eye on that.Yeh something i may have to look into.Re the battery; might be time to invest in a CTEK charger if you're able to leave it connected etc - just connected mine up this morning as my 130i isn't likely to move for a while, so makes sense to keep the battery happy
someguycalledtom said:
DC.11 said:
Thankyou that looks lovely,one of next tasks is to get the wheels refurb.Never known such a car be so calm for cruising around and then have a turn of pace like they do!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff